Atlanta United vs. Houston Dynamo Mercedes-Benz Stadium – Atlanta July 17 – 7:00 PM ET Fox Sports Southeast(?) ATLUTD.com match preview here. AJC.com United page here. MLSsoccer.com preview here. I'll offer more later as it's early and I simply wanted to get something up. Late night at work so excuse the drool on my keyboard. Edit: The Houston Orange come to town with the league’s worst road record and in bad form, having lost 6 of their last 7. Like Atlanta they’re a side with a stronger attack than defense, led by standout Mauro Manotas. He and Alberth Elis have combined for half the Dynamo’s goals and would be capable players for any MLS side save LAFC. Best I can tell Houston started the season tending to play a soft high-press, preferring to pick up the attack around midfield, but would sometimes back off either due to fatigue, strategy, etc. As the season wore on and the defense leaked in goals they’ve since varied in their attempts to stop the bleeding. As for Atlanta, check out this list: Hector Villalba Ezequiel Barco Kevin Kratz Florentin Pogba Brek Shea George Bello Mikey Ambrose Franco Escobar Escobar is suspended and Ambrose is listed merely as questionable, but the rest are out due to injury. In other words, 8 of Atlanta’s original 24 man-roster will be absent tonight. But yeah, let’s go ahead and add a meaningless friendly against a Mexican side to our schedule for next week! *sigh* I digress. Getting back to the match at hand Atlanta isn’t completely bereft of talent and the side still retains its potency. So as always tonight’s match is all about the degree to which the Stripes execute. Obviously the defense is going to look different. If Ambrose plays he’ll be on the left and possibly Parkhurst on the right in a back four, but as some have hinted a back three is also possible, either with Larentowicz involved or possibly just up front. Either way I’d personally start Jeff simply due to fresher legs and to change up Nagbe’s playing partnership, because lately things between him and Remedi have not been going smoothly. Go with the back four and let Jeff play a more centralized and reserved role compared to Eric, hopefully working hard (but not drawing cards!) in keeping Houston’s Quioto and Martinez from having too much time with the ball. If they can play stout enough on defense then Nagbe can get more advanced and help the attack. Speaking of that attack Atlanta needs to work harder tonight to drive the ball through the middle. Houston’s CB pairing is not the strongest and they’re susceptible to losing players who make cutting runs and quick passing. That hasn’t been Atlanta’s MO of late but certainly Pity, Meram and Co. can do that. If the wings don’t have to spend too much time tracking back, and if Atlanta can spend a good amount of the game in possession, then let’s see if Josef can stay forward and spend more time moving side-to-side, shifting defenders and looking for the through pass.Sp The good news is Atlanta is at home. The bad news is the team is beat up physically and hasn’t had the breather needed to hit the reset button for the defense. 2-1 to the good, but it ain’t pretty.
If there's ever a time to bring out the 3-5-2 again, this would be it. With Escobar and Shea out, you can't afford Parky and a not 100% Ambrose at fullback, not with Houston's speed on the wings.
Match preview material up. Sorry for the delay. Wonder if we'll see more Hyndman and if so how aggressive is the team's agenda regarding him?
Man, we are so depleted in the back that I've been sitting by the phone all day awaiting for Carlos to call. So what do we do tonight? I still say 3 at the back. Every time we play with 4 whoever is playing LB gets injured. 3-4-3 with Parkhurst playing in the middle and LGP and Robinson on his flanks.
The lineup is out. Interesting, 3-5-2 and Pity is sitting: https://www.ajc.com/sports/atlanta-united-starting-houston/p8iUHcRcbicrDyNoSe4cXP/
Finally have been able to make it to a game this year! So stoked. On another note, worried about injuries. Will definitely see some new faces tonight.
Inexplicably neither Manotas or Quioto are starting for Houston tonight, so we got that going for us.
I think he’s a positive addition because Big Red is getting older and Remedi isn’t the man, IMO. Mo should provide good cover. Especially since he can play FB too.